Omega's Return

Daphne's POV

"There's a spot there, scrub!" The voice of the head servant echoed in my ears. I sighed, grabbing the bucket and napkin before heading to the spot.

I squatted down, pressing the napkin to the stain, and began scrubbing as she had commanded.

"What is this? What is this?" she snapped, pointing at the floor. "Is this how to clean? Start all over!"

She stormed off before I could explain that the stain had come from her own muddy shoes.

I glared at her retreating back, muttering a curse under my breath. Taking the bucket, I moved from the royal living room and started mopping again. There were mopping sticks or vacuum cleaners to make the job easier, but those weren't for me. Easy jobs weren't for me.

I sighed and dropped to my knees, scrubbing from the beginning. As I worked, I grumbled under my breath, hissing at intervals. At least I was stronger than I used to be.

Years ago, my father had dressed me beautifully, pinning my hair with delicate hairpins; two of which I still kept among my few belongings-and told me we were going to see the Alpha. My mother had died a few weeks prior from a rare werewolf illness, and I had clung to my father's promise as if it were my last hope.

When he told me we were visiting the Alpha, I was ecstatic. My playmates spoke highly of him, even though none of them had ever met him. I boasted to my friends, and they had all wished they were in my place. At the time, I had wished that too.

But my excitement faded quickly.

I arrived at the royal pack house, waiting eagerly for my father to return for me. He had promised-promised he would come back that evening.

I waited.

And waited.

It has been ten years now. I was fifteen when I finally understood; my father had sold me to the Alpha to do whatever he wanted with me.

Alpha Merlin had been kind enough to let me live in his mansion, feeding and clothing me. The food wasn't as good as what was served at the royal table, but at least I ate daily.

For a while, I accepted my fate. But then Alpha Merlin died. And his son returned.

That was when my real suffering began.

I thought I had been treated badly before, but after Alpha Merlin's death, I learned the true depths of misery.

Kian had been away from the Ironstone Pack for years. As children, we had met a few times and had been friendly toward each other. But when he returned, he was a different man. I couldn't understand why people changed so easily.

The worst moment was when my wolf whispered that Kian was my mate. And worse still-he recognized it too.

A mere omega. A servant. A loser. What more could the goddess do to curse me?

Instead of claiming me, Kian's treatment of me only grew crueler. And with him, the rest of the pack followed.

The Queen Luna, Kian's mother, had always hated me-hated my presence, my scent, my very existence. But under Alpha Merlin's rule, she had kept it hidden. After his death, I saw death itself and came back to life again and again.

"Daphne."

Roxanne's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see her watching me with concern.

"You've been scrubbing for over two hours. Are you done with your other chores?"

I knew what she meant. She had already finished her tasks and wanted to help me, as she often did.

"Mrs. Rein said I didn't clean it well enough and told me to start over."

"But... this is spotless already. Get up," she ordered.

I gave her a tired, apologetic smile before slowly rising to my feet.

"What else do we have left?" Roxanne asked, grabbing the bucket and napkin from me.

I listed off our remaining tasks, counting them on my fingers.

"This is ridiculous!" Roxanne fumed. "Why don't they divide the duties equally? There are plenty of us. We could finish faster if they just-"

I raised an eyebrow at her, waiting.

She always got angry about this, and I always had to remind her why.

"I am the Alpha's unwanted mate. What do you expect? Fair treatment?"

"Yes," she snapped, unbothered by my sarcasm.

She marched to the bathroom, dumping the dirty water into the toilet before rinsing the bucket and napkin. I trailed after her, exhaustion weighing down my limbs.

We had barely stepped into the hallway when a guard's voice cut through the air.

"You."

Roxanne and I froze.

The guard strode toward us, his face impassive. "The Alpha wants you in his chambers. Now."

We didn't need to ask who he meant.

Roxanne shot me a pitiful look before walking away, while I followed the guard, bracing myself for what was to come.

I should have been furious. Instead, my cursed wolf stirred with excitement.

From the moment we recognized each other as mates, I became nothing more than Alpha Kian's personal plaything. His hands never left my flesh, and despite the cruel way he treated me, the mate bond filled me with a want so overwhelming that I craved him against my will.

He refused to accept that the goddess had given him an omega as a mate. But he also refused to reject me. Instead, he threatened me-warned me never to tell a soul.

The only person who knew was Roxanne. She had been my best friend for six years. If I had tried to keep it from her, she would have figured it out anyway. My secret was safe with her.

The mate bond was stronger than anything I had ever known.

Sometimes, I wished Kian would just reject me.

Curse him.

Curse the mate bond. And yet, I still ache for him.

Daphne's POV

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" The sharp growl penetrated into my dream and I jerked up in shock. I blinked my eyes wondering where I was and why I was here. I knew it was obviously Alpha Kian's room but I have never slept off here before.

"Alpha Kian, I'm-"

"Get out!" he roared and I jumped off the bed in fright, my pulse racing. I was completely naked and scrambled for my clothes, my only thought being to escape. But just as I passed him, his grip yanked my hair back sharply.

"What do you think you're doing?" he snarled, his breath hot against my ear. "Running out like this? What will they think when they see you?" His fingers tightened painfully before shoving me forward. His words were harsh, but there was something in his voice, anger, yes, but was there something else? Frustration?

"I'm... I'm sorry" I cried. My heart hung in my chest, my throat tightened as I wondered if today I would receive lashes for being so reckless as to sleep in the Alpha's bed.

"Get those clothes on immediately and get out. You have 12 seconds" he pushed my head forward leaving my hair before slapping my naked ass.

"Yes, yes sir"

Without wasting time, I began to dress up as fast as I could not caring if I was wearing the clothes right or wrong. The moment I saw done, I rushed out of the room not even daring to look at his face but I knew very well that his eyes were on me.

Alpha Kian was a ruthless Alpha and if he wasn't careful, he might cause Alpha Merlin's hard work to be in vain. He wasn't as good as his Father and it made me wonder why he had left for the Alpha's training school if he didn't learn anything there.

Alpha Merlin was a better example for him to follow than going to some school. Alpha Merlin led his people selflessly and with patience. Alpha Kian, he kills at every chance he gets and we now have more slaves than freeborn in this pack.

"Daphne!"

My eyes widened and I slowly turned to come face to face with Mrs. Rein. My heart sank as I watched her walk towards me angrily. I tried to brace myself but it was useless because the slap landed on my right cheek anyway.

"You think I am stupid? Huh?" She asked, slapping me over and over again as she asked, "Where have you been since yesterday? Where did you go to? How dare you leave the work I asked you to do for something else?"

The slap continued even after I fell on the floor until I heard someone say,

"That's enough, Rein" I didn't know if I should bless the goddess for sparing me or continue the prayer of help because the voice I heard was the voice of the queen Luna, Alpha Kian's mother.

Mrs. Rein bowed in respect, "Queen Luna"

I didn't bother to get up or look at the Queen Luna's face, I prostrated on the floor with my face to the ground.

"Let her be for today. We have a lot we are preparing for and we need her and her strength. Do not beat her any further." Her voice was gentle but I knew better than to believe that gentle voice.

"My future daughter-in-law and the next Luna of Ironstone Pack is coming soon," Queen Luna continued, her voice laced with unspoken authority, "We have a lot of work to do. We cannot make Alpha Kian's mate uncomfortable. Do you understand?"

Her words struck like a blade causing my chest to tightened, and breath shallow. Mate? The word echoed in my mind like a cruel joke.

No... but I am his mate. The realization sent a wave of nausea through me.

I dared not speak. My nails dug into my palm as I clenched my fists, forcing myself to swallow the pain. Did she know? Did Kian tell her? Or was she simply erasing me, as if I had never mattered?

"Rise, omega," the Queen Luna ordered.

She took her time, her gaze sweeping over me like she was inspecting damaged goods as I scrambled to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me.

"You look tired," she mused, her voice deceptively soft. "It must be exhausting, you know, always working, always trying." Her lips curled into a smile that did not reach her eyes. "But I'm sure you'll manage. After all, a future Luna deserves only the best from her people."

The words were gentle, but the meaning behind them was razor-sharp. Stay in your place.

"Do I make myself clear?" She asked again, ever so gently as if she was as gentle.

"Yes, yes Queen Luna" I bowed my head. Then came the sharp order from her,

"Get out!"

It was the same with her son's, same audacity, same aura, same hatred in their eyes. I wonder what I ever did to upset them.

I rushed out of the passage and made my way to the servant's quarters to search for Roxanne. When I saw her amongst the other servants, I pulled her away from them.

"Daphne, are you okay?" She asked, her brows gathered in a frown. I sniffed, without looking at her, I answered,

"Alpha Kian is bringing home a wife"

Roxanne fell silent and I wasn't expecting anything more than that. We were walking to the laundry room quietly in thoughts when I heard the voice of someone I just didn't want to come across now,

"If it's not the omega and her unknown friend" It was Anita. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing.

"How is my wolfless omega doing?"

"What do you want, Anita?" Roxanne asked quietly. The news I had just dropped, made her weak as it made me.

"I wasn't speaking to you. The wolfless omega has a mouth to respond. Or has she lost her speaking ability? Ah, you are really unfortunate"

"I can speak and I am not wolfless" I replied. I had a lot I need to do and speaking to Anita and her minors isn't one of them.

Anita smirked, her voice dripping with mock concern. "Oh, you poor thing, I almost feel sorry for you." She turned to her friends, laughing. "Almost."

I kept walking, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. But then, she stepped in front of me, blocking my path. Her eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.

"You claim you're not wolfless," she said, her voice turning cold. "Then prove it. Shift."

The hallway grew quiet. Servants who had been working nearby paused, their eyes flickering toward us. I felt Roxanne tense beside me.

I swallowed hard, keeping my face blank. "I don't need to prove anything to you, Anita."

"Oh, but you do." She took a step closer, close enough that I could see the malice dancing in her eyes. "Unless, of course... you're lying."

"Go on, girl. Shift."

The girls behind me sneered, their taunts biting deeper than I cared to admit. I shouldn't have spoken up, I didn't want trouble today, especially with so much work to do before the new Luna arrived.

"I don't have your time," I muttered, turning away.

"You don't?" Anita scoffed. "Or you can't shift?"

"Let her be, Anita. Go find something else to do instead of flaunting your stupidity," Roxanne shot back.

"Says the servant's servant girl," one of Anita's friends snickered. Roxanne's fingers formed a fist before she scoff

"As if she's any better," Roxanne clicked her tongue but I could see the pain in her eyes. The insult landed, making Anita's group bristle with anger. They looked ready to start a fight, so I tried to defuse the situation.

"Mrs. Reins gave me work to do. If you'll excuse me-"

"Admit it," Anita challenged, stepping closer. "Say you're a wolf-less wolf, and we'll let you go."

I glanced at Roxanne. She shook her head as if telling me 'don't say it.'

I knew the truth. I had never met my wolf. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I willed it, nothing ever happened. But as always, I still tried.

Closing my eyes, I reached deep inside, hoping-just once-to prove them wrong.

Silence stretched.

Anita and her minions watched with wide, expectant eyes.

"You never give up, do you?" she mocked before shoving me roughly. I stumbled, barely keeping my balance.

"What's taking you so long? Is your wolf as slow as a centipede?"

Laughter rang in my ears. I clenched my jaw, refusing to let them see the hurt, but my silence only fueled their cruelty.

"Weak and lazy ass," Anita sneered before turning away with her friends.

I watched them go, my fists tightening at my sides. Roxanne sighed and reached for my hand, helping me up.

"Thanks," I muttered.

"It's alright. But you know Anita's going to spread this all over the pack, right?"

"Let her. I don't care."

"I'll never understand how some people find joy in tormenting others," Roxanne huffed.

I let out a dry chuckle. "It's a wonder."

****

A loud bang on the door jolted me awake.

"I'm coming!" I shot up from my mattress, heart pounding. Roxanne was still asleep, meaning it was early-too early. It couldn't be Mrs. Reins. She never knocked.

I had my answer the moment I opened the door.

"The Alpha wants you. Now," the guard ordered.

I nodded quickly. "Sure. I-"

Before I could say more, he grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. I barely had time to process it as we walked in silence toward Alpha Kian's quarters. My stomach churned with nerves.

I was still in my faded blue night gown, my hair a tangled mess. But freshening up wasn't an option. If I delayed, I'd be beaten or worse, thrown into the dungeon.

At his door, one of the guards shoved me forward. "Go in."

I hesitated before knocking lightly and stepping inside.

Alpha Kian sat on the edge of his bed, shirtless, his piercing gaze landing on me the moment I entered. I dropped my eyes to the floor.

"Good morning, Alpha," I murmured. "You sent for me."

"Word reached me that you fought with some of the servant girls."

My breath caught. My body tensed. How did he already know?

I pressed my lips together, staring at my feet. My fingers twisted nervously. His shadow loomed over me as he rose from the bed, slow and deliberate.

"You're so useless that you have time to start fights now?" His voice was ice.

"No, I didn't start the-"

The slap came fast, sharp, and cruel. Pain exploded across my cheek, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. I swallowed it down, refusing to cry.

Tears welled in my eyes despite myself. My nose ran, my face burned, but I forced my body still.

"Do you know what you are?" he hissed.

I could feel his gaze cutting into me like a blade, even without looking up. He yanked my hair, dragging my head back as he whispered, voice dripping with venom,

"You're a worthless wolf that I use whenever I like. You are lower than a slave. You have no right to fight back. You have no right to speak. You are a wolfless, barren omega."

His words sliced deeper than his hands ever could. My chest tightened. Rage simmered beneath my skin, burning me alive. He finally released my hair, shoving me backward.

I lifted my head, my teeth clenched. My fists trembled at my sides as I whispered, "Reject me then."

His eyes darkened.

"If I'm so useless, so worthless, so barren, reject me," I spat. "Let me go."

Another slap. Then another.

"You do not tell me what to do," he growled. "I own you. I decide whether to reject you or kill you. Your life belongs to me."

I tried to shield my face, but he always found a way to land his blows. The pain blurred into one agonizing haze. I couldn't hold back the sob that tore from my throat.

He grabbed me then, yanking me toward the bed.

Terror rooted me in place.

No. No. Not again.

He tore at my clothes, his grip bruising.

"I don't need to reject anything," he sneered. "You are not my mate, and you never will be."

Tears streamed down my face.

"My Luna is coming soon," he continued, his voice mocking. "And you-you pathetic bitch-will attend to her like the lowly servant you are."

A sob wracked my chest.

He didn't care.

Not as he took what he wanted, as he always did.

Not as I lay there, unmoving, tears soaking into the sheets.

When he finally finished, he shoved me off the bed like discarded trash.

I scrambled to my feet, clutching what remained of my torn dress as I rushed from the room.

It happened again.

It would happen again.

And no one would save me.

Because no one cared.

As I hurried out to start my chores, his final words echoed in my head, sealing my fate like a death sentence.

"Get ready. My wife arrives tonight."

Daphne's POV

I forced myself to run out of the room with my heart beating so fast. The day was already so bright and I could see everyone so busy as they prepared for their Luna's arrival. So I joined in the preparation without speaking a word to anyone, not even Roxanne whom I hadn't seen all morning.

It was suddenly time and we all waited outside the mansion for Alpha Kian's Luna who came into the compound in a convoy.

Doors opened and the guards that came with her stood in front of each door until Alpha Kian went ahead to open one of the doors then a slender leg appeared. Her shoes was worth my entire life by just looking at them. Even though we were all asked to look down, I couldn't help but fix my eyes on her feet, those shoes.

"How was your flight?" Alpha Kian asked

"Stressful but I'm glad I could make it here in time" she replied. I raised my head to see what she looked like and my eyes landed on my mate kissing her. I quickly shifted my eyes back to the ground and my fingers clenched. My wolf groaned in pain, and I felt my heartburn. I shouldn't have looked.

Roxanne's hand grabbed mine and we both intertwined our fingers together, it was her way of comforting me but it only worsened the situation as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

"My dearest daughter-in-law, we have been waiting for your arrival. Welcome, welcome" The queen Luna smiled as she hugged the lady.

"You're more beautiful in person than in the picture I saw online." She added and I wondered if I'll ever be treasured this way. It was a dream that would never come true.

"Hello, mother-in-law" Her voice was calm and her accent was fluent and classy. There's no way I could have beat her, no way Alpha Kian would have chosen me over her, no way. What the hell was the moon goddess thinking to mate me with an Alpha's son that had gone out of this pack, this country, and had seen the world and so many girls in it?

After a while, the royals went inside while we were ordered to prepare the table for the feast while the couples went for their mating ceremony. Servants weren't allowed to go into the hall where the mating ceremony was done. But when Alpha Kian accepted her, my wolf felt it and my heart sank. I felt the wave of depression swipe through my body. It was horrible, it was painful and I just wanted to stay away and cry.

Two hours later, while the eating and drinking were going on, Mrs Rein ordered me to check the Alpha's room if it was well arranged for the newly mated couples to go in and have their first intercourse.

I went, of course, the room was so different from how I left it this morning. It was beautiful and flawless and words could not express how romantic the atmosphere was. I made my way to the bed, reached for one of the petals on the bed and placed it under my nose to smell it. It smelt nice.

Just as I was about to drop it back on the bed, the door burst open with the two couples kissing each other hungrily and I froze.

"What the fuck is a servant doing here, in my matrimonial room?!" Came the sharp words from Alpha Kian immediately he saw me and broke the kiss. My eyes widened, now he was pretending not to know anything about me.

"I... I... I'm sorry, I was asked to check if--"

"Get the fuck out of my room, bitch!" He roared and I quickly ran past them with the new Luna laughing at me. Her eyes followed me until I was out the door. I held my chest and rushed back to the hall to join the servants to clean the place up.

***

"You! The Luna wants to see you" One of the guards pointed to me and my brows furrowed.

"Me?" I asked to be sure and he nodded.

"Yes, you"

That was strange. The Luna and not the Alpha. I looked at Roxanne who shrugged and asked me to go with them which I did. I was taken to the garden at the side of the mansion. I saw the Luna sitting on the bench, she was dressed so beautifully, her skin kept glowing and her moves were flawless as she looked at me. She waved her hand at the guards to leave and they did.

"What's your name?"

"Good morning my Luna, my name is Daphne, ma"

"Daphne" she repeated, tasting my name on her tongue, "I used to have one Daphne as a colleague back then. Do you know what happened to her?"

"No ma" I shook my head, how was I supposed to know?

"She disappeared. She disobeyed me and suddenly disappeared" She raised her shoulders like she didn't know how Daphne disappeared and I gulped in fear.

"Same thing can happen to anyone that decides to double cross me, Daphne" The way she stressed the Daphne, I could tell that she hated the name because of the Daphne she had once encountered. I didn't say a word, I didn't know what to say.

"I have heard a lot about you. I won't say anything since it's all in the past but I do not want to hear anymore as from today" She finally looked from the flower she had been staring at,

"Stay far away from the Alpha. The next time the same news I heard today, I hear them again, I'll make you disappear. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-yes ma" I blinked at how bold she was, her threat sent shivers down my body, I clearly was seeing goosebumps on my skin.

"Good. Now get out!"

I turned away and quickly began to walk back into the mansion. My heart was racing, and my fingers trembling from the threat.

I just gotten into the mansion when I was stopped by one of the alpha's personal guards who was always sent to call for me.

"You!" I froze and gulped as I looked at him, "The Alpha seeks your presence now!"

I suddenly began to feel pressed and sweat trickled down my forehead.

I'm doomed.